2007/2008 Nationwide Conference (1st)This season saw the culmination of 16 years obsessive hard work by fans, players and staff alike. To this day Gary Waddock refuses to take any individual credit for our success; but his denial is transparent. The Ginger-Mourinho came in and finished a job started by Terry Brown. An injection of youth and professionalism carved out a side not just of champions; but of record breakers. The Shots finished on 101 conference points. It was a tale of two trips to the South West that sealed a return to the league. Scott Davis injury time strike to secure the 3 points against rivals Torquay will never be forgotten by those on the terrace, in the Black Bull or screaming ecstasy in their living rooms (thank you Setanta). Similarly it was a trip to Exeter (the first ever league club that our non-league side took on) that saw the Shots get over the finishing line. Kindly the Exeter club allowed the fans and staff to stay on partying; it was a gesture that wiped out all previous bad feeling between the clubs. The trophy was received at home to Weymouth where red and blue converged on both sides of the East Bank to welcome home the heroes. At half time an emotion filled parade of all our non-league heroes allowed us to reminisce through 16 years of memories. The Shots also picked up the league cup (Setanta Shield) courtesy of some consistent performances by the fringe squad members. Really we should note the disappointment of being so close to Wembley - but to linger on that would taint the memory of a wonderful, wonderful season. The Shots are back. That's the end of the beginning. Game by Game: Fixtures/Teams/Results/Attendances
Final League Table |
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Another season of mid-table mediocrity for the Shots, significant only for the changes off the field. First John McGinty stepped into the Chairman's shoes; injecting the club with cash, a renewed passion and a desire to get back on a firm financial footing. Second was the departure of Terry Brown, who struggled all year to meet the continued high expectation of the fans. His departure was accelerated by the serious illness to his wife and in the end the split truly was mutual. This was echoed by unique scenes at the Rec on a March night where the club waved him goodbye in an approriate fashion. The outgoing hero was given a standing ovation and night long adulation that took even the most seasoned pro's by surprise. Few managers get such a send off. His legacy for the season will be in the FA Cup where the Shots made the third round for the first time ever. They lost out 4-2 to Blackpool having gone 2-0 down early on. The Bloomfield Road crowd gave the non-league losers an ovation at the end; acknowledging they were lucky to progress. Martin Kuhl took temporary charge for the final 6 weeks of the season, but couldn't ultimately make the extra push towards the play-off; instead he had to settle for raising the Hampshire Cup. Gary Waddock was appointed as the new manager just after the season close. He marked his arrival by signalling the end for Shots hero and local boy Darren Barnard. Game by Game: Fixtures/Teams/Results/Attendances
Transfers/Appearances/Player of the Month (coming soon)
Final League Table |
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Aldershot Town's thirteenth season in existence was surely one of the least enjoyable. Injuries and poor squad management over the summer left the Shots on the back foot from day one. For much of the season the Shots couldn't work out whether to look up the table at the play-off zone they once owned; or indeed down at a relegation zone. Indeed "Relegation" was thus far not a word not in the Aldershot dictionary. Thankfully at least it never came to that. Results were cobbled together, and in some patches the team tricked the fans into re-believing. When the dust settled though a 13th place finish with a goal difference of -13 said it all. The season will be remembered for little. Perhaps just for the continued stream of top players leaving the Shots for the promise of League football. Tim Sills went mid season to Oxford for a good fee; following Will Antwi and Brett Johnson (summer departures). Disappointing to see none of them really succeed, coupled with Adam Miller's return to the non-league game. At the other end of the scale Roscoe D'Sane had to eventually give up on his dream to wear the Red and Blue again; his body unable to support full time football. A second round defeat by Scunthorpe at the Rec in the FA Cup was the only significant cup event. Even the Hampshire Senior Cup only lasted into January this year. Game by Game: Fixtures/Teams/Results/Attendances
Transfers/Appearances/Player of the Month
Final League Table |
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Aldershot Town's second season in the Conference saw them become a full-time outfit. Over the summer an agreement was reached with the Army to allow the Shots to have the best in training facilities, while the management changed the players to find a set able to commit to just the one job: playing for the Shots. The upheaval and change of attitude was reflected on the pitch - as all at the club struggled to find a new way of working. Despite an early surge up the table - form throughout the season was never good and it took a stunning final run to secure a fourth place finish, and another play off spot. Injuries blighted the Shots throughout, the loss of top scorer Roscoe D'Sane was a killer blow. Stuart Cash left his post as Assistant Manager - ultimately unable to give the full time position the time it required. Once again it was penalties that killed off our chances - with Carlisle United beating us in the semi finals in a dramatic second leg played in front of 10,000 at Brunton Park on a Friday night in May. Despite the result Jamie Slabber's 95th minutes header will live long in the memory of the hundreds who made the thankless trek right across the country. In the FA cup we exited to Hartlepool in the Second Round, whilst doing the unusal in the Hampshire Cup. We made the final, as is the norm, however for the first time we then lost the match (at Dorset's Fitness First Stadium in Bournemouth!). Game by Game: Fixtures/Teams/Results/Attendances
Transfers/Appearances/Player of the Month
Final League Table |
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The season that saw Aldershot Town rubbing shoulders with the elite of the Non-League game, including a number of former Football League sides we had played as the old club. The perfect start to life in the national game saw Sky Sports televise live coverage of the opening game at home to Accrington Stanley. Ray Warburton led Aldershot in the manner of the Gladiator he resembled. With the Shots captain playing at a level he knew so well, the Shots secured a foothold in the top five places of the league table and only surrendered their place there for just a few days in December. From there, the part-time Shots continued to grind out results despite a porous defence. It was the goals that kept Aldershot firing. Roscoe D'Sane hit 27 in league and cup, with Tim Sills in his debut Conference season weighing in with 21 of his own. From midfield Jon Challinor added another 12, and it was this cavalier play that made the season so entertaining, if somewhat nerve-racking too. In the cups there was an early exit from the Hampshire Senior Cup, ending recent Aldershot domination of the tournament. We equalled our best ever run in the FA Cup, reaching the 2nd Round before losing by a single goal just seven minutes from time at Colchester. The FA Trophy saw a new club best as Terry Brown steered the side into the Semi Finals. Red hot favourites to reach Villa Park, the Shots surprisingly bowed out to Hednesford who went on to win the Final. The best was yet to come. 5th place secured a Play-Off place against Hereford Utd over two legs. It took penalties to do it, but Aldershot reached the Final at Britannia Stadium, and after twelve long years were a possible 90 minutes from the Football League. Once again, the penalty lottery was needed to separate the Shots from Shrewsbury Town, but it was the Salop who returned to the League. Then the decision was taken to end Aldershot's part-time odyssey and on 1st July 2004, Aldershot Town converted into a full-time professional football club. Game by Game: Fixtures/Teams/Results/Attendances
Transfers/Appearances/Player of the Month
Final League Table |
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Yes, this was the year that Aldershot Town finally emerged from regional football and won promotion to the Nationwide Conference. The previous disappointments were all set aside as Shots fans enjoyed a superb finale to the season and, at long last, the lifting of the Isthmian League Title. There was a near repeat of the previous season's Hampshire Senior Cup Final success at St Marys, Southampton, where again nearly 3000 Shots fans this time witnessed Aaron McLean grab a brace as the Shots secured a 2-1 win over Bashley. Before the season started there was the treat of seeing Chelsea's superstars in action against our boys in the 10 year celebration game. In the FA Cup there was disappointment as the Shots failed for the first time in four years to reach the 1st Round proper. Nikki's Bull's sending off against Dagenham for many was the turning point. This was the season that saw Karl Ready don the Red & Blue and help the Shots on an incredible 8 game run that took them to the top of the table. The Shots were never to leave the top spot in the chase for the title. And no one who was there will forget the scene on Canvey Island as 2400 Shots fans made their way to Park Lane for what many said was the title decider. The 1-0 Shots victory all but ensured promotion and the partying began. On the management front Terry Brown's first full season in charge saw him deliver the prize so coveted by all at the club, the League Title, and retain the Hampshire Senior Cup. There was also the success of the Youth Team set up as Michael Harper entered the Shots stage with two goals on his senior debut. Game by Game: Fixtures/Teams/Results/Attendances
Transfers/Appearances/Player of the Month
Final League Table |
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